#anti bucklemming

[ambersock]

Because once upon a time they had good writers like Ben Edlund and Sera Gamble. Until they were replaced by the likes of Buckleming.

supernatural had NOOOO business saying shit like “freedom is a length of rope. god wants you to hang yourself with it.” where the FUCK do they get off saying something that good? on cw show supernatural????

[spngeorg]

Episode 139 - 7.13 The Slice Girls

Oh, bucklemming with their fast-growing monster babies... only they foisted this one off on Dean. To me, this one has always felt like a ham-fisted attempt to balance out the Amy Pond storyline from earlier this season, that just makes it all the more unbalanced.

Sam might think the scales are balanced now, but mostly because he's not exactly in touch with reality himself here... or at the very least not seeing Dean clearly. This is the part of s7 where the writers seemed to forget Sam was constantly hallucifering all over the place, but that makes a hell of a lot more sense when we do remember that while watching.

LINKS!

The Superwiki Page

My tag (only two pages of posts!)

The People’s Choice Pantsless Promo video

My rewatch notes from July 2019 (mostly about Sam and Dean and their main conflict throughout s6 and s7, really… and Sam’s dependence on his Magic Anti-Hallucination Button to the exclusion of actually perceiving reality unless it fits with his personal understanding of it. Plus, proof there can be good stuff even in egregious bucklemming episodes… Seriously, if you only click one link here, make it this one.)

My Complaint™ about the handprint disappearing

Listen now on Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts!

[eisforeidolon]

Yeah, but then you got stuff like Lilith and Ruby's entire plan hinging on Sam breaking Lucifer free, so Lilith tries have Sam killed multiple times in S3 and Ruby tells him he's strong enough to kill Lilith in the S3 finale. And Sam being Lucifer true vessel, but he'll explode w/out demon blood? Those are just as bad as Lucifer calling Michael his little brother in an episode where he was doing nothing but lying to Crowley about everything.

Except that puts us back at that same fundamental disagreement, about whether it matters if a retcon happens in service of the story or not and how big of a change it makes to achieve what effect.

How many times did Lilith actually, personally, show up and try to kill Sam, remind me again? We had a lot of demons talking a big game about it, but when did it ever actually happen? Even her appearance at the end of season 3, she throws some flashy lights at him and flees - even though the neighborhood is full of her demons. The idea is that Lilith and Ruby are playing a long con on Sam (and the show is playing a long con on us). Is it 100% seamless? No. Does it serve a clear purpose enhancing the story? Yes.

I'll agree Lucifer's true vessel needing demon blood just like his lesser vessels do makes no sense. Except I don't recall any way that's actually a retcon which changes something we've been told about or seen happen otherwise previously, it's just ... kinda dumb.

Compare those to your example. Even if Lucifer lying about something that everyone, including Crowley, knows is bunk made sense as a justification? That doesn't work because Bucklemming screwed that pooch twice. The first time was Amara in 11x18 calling Lucifer "[God's] first son" and the second was the "little bro" from Lucifer himself when talking to Crowley in 12x17 you're referring to. The entire apocalypse mythology was based around the angels and their respective true vessels being parallels to each other and there was literally no reason in the plot to screw around with that - but hey, no big deal, right? Only if you believe all retcons are made equal, and I emphatically don't.

[italwayshadtobeyou]

I don't like the MOC plot either, but I have a hard time seeing seasons 9-10 as pandering to Jensen. He didn't get any great moments as MOC!Dean or demon Dean (certainly nothing that compared to addict!Sam or Lucifer!Sam), although his and Jared's chemistry salvaged a couple of poorly written moments from "Soul Survivor" and "Brother's Keeper."

Season 15 seemed to be pandering to the writers more than the actors. Most eps between felt like they were running down a wishlist of things they hadn't had time to do before. Unfortunately, they still didn't have time to do them, what with the looming "evil God" plot, but they would've been wastes of time even if the biggest bad had been a three-legged hellhound. Buckleming brought back Lucifer, still wearing Nick, because reasons. Berens wrote a long-ass love confession, from a character whose species has no plausible use for a pair bond, set while the horseman of death impotently banged on the door with her scythe. (Lisa Berry, my beloved, I'm so sorry.) Andrew Dabb did... honestly, I'm not even sure how to describe the atrocity that was "The Heroes' Journey." In general, it was a lot of concepts that belonged in different genres, made little sense for the characters we already knew, and lacked the subtlety where actors could've painted in their own colors.

The MOC storyline truly had some potential, especially the whole Cain and Abel parallel. Not that I wanted the brothers truly at odds AGAIN.

But, it was so boring. Like, Dean spent most of the season being roughly the same other than now having the need to stare moodily at his arm every other scene. And the scenes of “For Dean!" were so corny. Then Dean goes nuts in like the last three episodes after a season of being just mildly jerkier.

Side note: Demon Dean was just a loser.

Then after the stupid plot is over, Dean is exactly the same person he was before it started. He learned nothing other than, yes, he is in fact a killer. Which everyone and their mom knew.

I guess we got rid of Pollyanna? I mean, Charlie?

Pointless and boring.

Every time the show pandered to Ackles it hurt the story or took me right out of episodes. Like Season 15. Fan service trash.

Precisely! If you're going to turn a supporting protagonist into the main protagonist, there has to be repercussions and growth for the character. We saw none of that in Dean.

I hate when writers pander to fans (and in some cases, Jensen and Misha the actors). Can you imagine how much greater the SPN legacy could be if Dabb and the writers had actually put some serious thought into crafting a comprehensive and complete story for the final season instead of giving up and granting every desperate person's personal wish? Imagine if the entire season had gone out with a bang instead of just one episode. I mourn what we could have had.

[jackklinemybeloved]

I find it very funny that bucklemming went through all of the trouble of developing Michael and Adam’s relationship in 15x08, creating tons of more Midam shippers, and then just... doing nothing with it and having Michael betray the Winchesters for Chuck just because Lucifer called him a cuck several times.

[wingsdestiel]

bucklemming: write everyone ooc, love to introduce women just to torture and/or kill them, have a weird obsession with mark p, often ignore cas entirely, write some of the worst dialogue I’ve ever had the misfortune to experience

also bucklemming: somehow write some of the most iconic destiel interactions of all time

me: 

[arwenadreamer]

Warning: SPN episode criticism ahead.

Just rewarched War Of The Worlds, written by Bucklemming. I only kept watching to decide on a favourite quote.

There are very few episodes that I skip completely on my rewatches, and a few weeks back I was asked what those three eps were. I said All Along The Watchtower, but I remembered that wrong. While AATW is not a remarkably great episode either, it's somehow watchable, albeit a bit boring.

But War Of The Worlds is just an unwatchable bundle of boring and downright cringey. In Germany we have the word fremdschämen, which means to be embarrassed on someone's behalf. There are scenes (plural) in this episode that cause that feeling.

Like, who thought it would be good storytelling to bring Ketch back in the first place? And then they have him tied to a chair in the armory, but Sam sets him free. Ketch wanders around the bunker unsupervised, just wearing a pair of handcuffs with a long chain between. When Dean sees this he's incredulous, but Sam is like "he's chained, he can't do anything". Really?

Then Sam and Dean have to leave to find Cass. They tie Ketch to the chair again. Later Dean says he doesn't have a good feeling leaving Ketch alone in the bunker. Sam: "He's chained in the armory. He can't do anything." REALLY?

Ketch, of course, escapes. And follows Sam and Dean.

Sam: H-how did you get out of the armory? Y-y-you...chains...

Ketch: Lock pick. If you'd done the prescribed cavity search, as you should've, you'd have found it.

REALLY?

I'm sorry, but how stupid can you write Sam Winchester? (And Dean, too.)

And that is the "interesting" part of the episode. I'm eben less interested in AU Micheal, in Lucifer, in Cass screwing things up again by talking to Lucifer and not telling Sam and Dean that he's back in their world (which sucks major in itself and also happened this episode) and least of all in Asmodeus.

Bucklemming really outdid themselves here!

I don't know what quote to pick. 😰

[canonicallysoulmates]

Supernatural 15.19

Before this epi started I was feeling a little sad cause you know the show is coming to an end and after this there’s only one episode left but after watching this I’m reminded of why this show has to end. 

I’m not even mad- I might get mad later cause the more I think about it the worse this episode seems but right now I’m just....I don’t know, done I guess and just wanting this to end. 

This was technically the season finale cause it’s the end of the Chuck storyline and it sucks like as a regular episode it’s just one more bad one of the bunch but when you add the fact that it’s kind of the last ever “season finale” we’ll get it just makes it more disappointing at least to me. 

But what happens in this episode? How does Chuck’s storyline as the “ultimate big villain” end? Well, fittingly for this show now-a-days with a pathetic whimper. 

He gets turned into a mortal. After Jack absorbed his powers cause he’s a power sponge. 

I’m not joking, although I understand why you might be tempted to think so, turns out that whole spell that had been done to turn Jack into a bomb turned him into a sponge (since you know he didn’t explode and all like he was supposed to) that’s why he would kill plants by passing by them he was...*checks notes* absorbing their power?...I guess plants have power now it could have something to do with the whole God is in everything thing but then... wouldn’t he be also absorbing people...and pretty much like the whole earth....? Whatever if the writers didn’t put any thought to this why should I, point is the boy is a sponge, they lure Chuck into a trap and he releases his power by beating the crap out of Sam and Dean while Jack absorbs it all. 

Thus, Chuck is turned into a mortal. And, that’s it. That’s how his story ends. 

You see this is why you shouldn’t do big storylines if you don’t know where you’re going with them. 

Of course, with Chuck now mortal somebody has to take over as God and the task is left up to Jack! I will admit I do like him as God, I’m glad he didn’t die cause I like this character a lot but I think it would have been more fitting if they turned him into Death, especially if he was the one to defeat Chuck, because then it would have tied to what Death said in s5 that one day he too would reap God. And, yes, you can make the argument that technically that’s still true because now he’s mortal and will eventually die but he’s now mortal he’s no longer God. And there’s no new death.  

Let’s rewind and go back to earlier in the episode, 

Okay, so, after a very stilted beginning where bless their hearts none of the actors gave any fucks when they showed up to that day of work, finding out Chucks new plan which consists of getting rid of every living creature and leaving Sam, Dean and Jack to deal with the empty Earth, and Jack sensing a presence which turns out to be Michael this time by himself but still using Adam’s body because Adam is now gone just like everyone else, Dean gets a phone call from...could it be? Is it possible? Yes, boys, gals, and nonbinary pals Lucifer is back! For the 100th time 😑 

He called Dean pretending to be feathers so he would open the door, and so the writers could fuck with the fans cause he didn’t really need Dean to open the door but anyways no need to worry nothing interesting is done with him. He arrives at the Bunker pretending he wants to help and has a kidnapped reaper with him who he proceeds to kill so she’ll turn into the new Death and will be able to read the book so they can find out how to defeat Chuck, except when the new Death has the book opened to the right page and is ready to tell them shocker he kills her and reveals it was Chuck who got him out of the Empty (I thought God didn’t have any power or control over the Empty? This show has retconned itself so many times I can’t track of what’s what anymore) so he could get his hands on the book blah blah blah Michael kills him. 

And all the while, Jack is standing there like a pac-man who ate the cherry going yum yum yum and absorbing all the power that’s being released. 

Anyways, back in the epi, they take advantage that Michael’s a daddy’s boy to set up a trap saying there’s a spell in the book that can track and destroy Chuck so Michael tells Chuck about it and then Chuck kills Michael and y’all know the rest. Yum, yum, yum, yum Jack absorbed their power. He also absorbed Amara when he absorbed Chuck’s powers, she’s now somewhere in him.

How did Chuck not see this coming? In 15.17 he was all ‘of course I knew this was a trap I’m omniscient’ but this time he didn’t see it coming? This was his blind spot? Why do I keep trying to make sense of writing where no thought was put? 

The episode ends with Jack returning people, and animals, back to Earth then going his own way, and Sam and Dean driving off in the Impala as a montage played. 

The ending was the best part with Sam and Dean riding off together, the flashback montage was nice for the first 20 seconds then it started to drag and the clips were all over the place. Much like the editing for this episode. 

So there you go, that’s how the last storyline of Supernatural ends. 

I mean- I really like where it leaves us for the finale with only Sam and Dean on the open road, I think Jack had a nice ending, I like that those who were dead stayed dead. But it’s still bad episode, I hate that Jack and Sam never got to have a proper final conversation, I hate that the table that was so special with Sam and Dean’s initials got desecrated again with the addition of Castiel and Jack’s names and I feel for Jared and Jensen because they must have hated that, the writing is a mess, the story structure is even worse, the editing is no gem and I wasn’t a big fan of the song choices. 

In a really, shitty, painful way this ep, at least temporarily, takes off some of the sting about the show ending. There was a moment in this ep where Chuck tells the boys he’s cancelling their show and my first thought was that I wish he had done that when it was still good. And I legitimately mean it, that’s the part that sucks the most you guys I fucking mean it. 

It’s time for Supernatural to come to an end. And this episode reminds us why. 

[supernatur-ally]

fucking buckleming. i hate them so much. the rage in my bones that buckleming brings out is colossal. i am like big foot... except its big anger... and im coming for you. im coming for you, you stupid son of a bitch. you make me so furious i just want to stomp on you. 

[freetobeeyouandme]

Writing a paper on Frankenstein is fun except for when I have to think of Supernatural and then I just get mad all over again because Bucklemming are literally so bad at their fucking job :)

[tinstol]

Ok so when Jack becomes god he says the best thing he can do is step away and let everyone live their own lives. But how is that better than chuck, exactly? One of the driving factors for the past 14 seasons was that he had all this power but didn’t use it to help anyone. Plus, this world was built and designed around chuck wanting to write a story, so it has deep structural problems designed to cause pain. But we’re just supposed to believe everything’s going to be fine on it’s own? I don’t think so

[laurelwinchester]

the good news is that now we never have to watch another episode of television written by brad buckner and eugenie ross-leming and i think that’s something worth celebrating.

[lunellumcas]

Also, people, today’s episode is buckleming and it will be a disappointment in many ways. Don’t worry, it will be ok.

[demonicseries]

that’s on me for expecting a bucklemming episode to be good

[eisforeidolon]

How the hell was 14x12 written by Buckleming??? The dialogue between Sam and Dean is so good, and the whole" I believe in us speech" is making me cry. What the hell happened here?

Honestly, I think the level of talent in the writers' pool fell in Dabb's era to the point that they started to make Bucklemming look relatively competent.

While they couldn't keep canon straight to save their lives and had a bizarre fixation on woobifying Lucifer? They weren't as generally obsessed with prioritizing side characters over Sam & Dean or catering to the shoutiest fans on SM. They actually seemed to like Sam and Dean for Sam and Dean, which tended to lend itself to occasional shining moments for the characters - even if they were generally pretty weak writers in terms of concepts, plots, pacing, etc.

At least, that's how I see it.

[jackklinemybeloved]

Just remembered 15x19 is being written by bucklemming so there’s really no chance this episode is gonna be even slightly good huh